<p>hey guys im a junior in the economics department and i just thought i'd clarify some things said:
-you need no calculus at all to enter eco100/101. both are amazing courses although i despised reinhardt, and as an econ tutor, i had to essentially take his class twice...once normally and once tutoring all the kids that take it. he is extremely biased and not a good intro teacher IMO. i would try to take it with blinder or rosen if possible. i hear rosen is amazing.
-i am very happy with the department, but there are definite downsides you should be aware of. the department is very large and ends up feeling impersonal, for example when everyone else gets a professor advisor for junior independent work you get a crappy graduate student who barely responds to your emails and grades rather arbirtrarily.
-also a couple things inopa said that were inaccurate, probably just because he hasnt entered the department yet: you do not need math track econ to enter into finance courses. eg. malkiel's famous investments course states that you need 310 (math track) but all you have to do is email him and ask for permission. he gives permission out like candy, because there is barely any calculus at all in the course. (you only need to know how to take derivatives.) also there is no way 70% of majors take their core classes sophomore year. the majority of EVERY core class is juniors, with possibly 310 as an exception.
-lastly i would say the department is actually not too difficult, if econ is what floats your boat. i was a MOL major turned ECO and the level of work has plummetted for me. i would actually say the department is pretty easy. a ton of the football players choose to be econ, if that gives you an idea. </p>
<p>hope that helps.</p>